If HAL had a Chat Board on their Web Site Would you participate?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Several months ago I participated in a hour long survey/interview by telephone. In this survey they asked me if I would find a Chat Board on the HAL Web Site useful?

Now in no way am I saying this to take away from the CC board because like other chat boards I feel there is room for everyone and it will just occupy more of our time between cruises. I just think it would be fun if they did have one for Questions and Answers to be supplied by both Seattle office and any officers or crew on the ships that would like to participate.

Would do some of you think of this idea?

[jhannah]

Personally, I think they can find a much better use for the bandwidth of their computer systems than initiating a chat board. We have this one here (which we know a number of HAL execs/emps read) plus others, and I cannot really see the need for them to start yet another one.

But to answer your question, I'd probably participate to some degree.

[johnlcruise]

I think Its a great idear.
As long as we dont get carry-away with tipping and food subjucts.:)

And would the Seattle office really reply? I bet they would need somebody there full time just to take care of all our questions. Or at least have a time set-up for when somebody at the Seattle office would take questions and answard them.

[AAAAmerican]

Yes.


Since HAL contracted out the PC systems fuctioning with the parents vendor(s) Carnival CCL:NYSE it has not done very well .

Wish they had a Tier One like us!:D

[kakalina]

I would love to get into another chat venue as long as it is about my favotite subject; cruising on HAL

[kryos]

Would depend upon how independent their chat board truly was.

Only problem with a chat board directly sponsored by and moderated by the cruise line is that a lot of "independence" of opinion could be lost. What would happen, say, if someone came home from their HAL cruise with not too much good to say? Would HAL let their post stand or would they delete it?

Frankly, if I were a large corporation sponsoring a chat board for my customers, I probably wouldn't want to waste my bandwidth letting the few malcontents vent ... even if those few malcontents had some valid points to make. I don't want potential customers visiting that board and hearing about what a lousy cruise one or two people had. I'm paying for that web space, so I want it to reflect only good on my company. So, I'd probably delete those few negative posts in a heartbeat ... especially if they weren't the norm.

So, to be honest, I prefer chat boards like these kept independent of the actual cruise lines. Then I know that I am going to get true independent reviews, opinions, etc. when I visit them. Sure HAL can visit these boards, but they truly have very little if any control over what is said here ... even if they may sponsor some advertising on these boards ... and that's the way I like it.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Rita, Please do not take this wrong but you stated
Only problem with a chat board directly sponsored by and moderated by the cruise line is that a lot of "independence" of opinion could be lost. What would happen, say, if someone came home from their HAL cruise with not too much good to say? Would HAL let their post stand or would they delete it?

I see that happening frequently here so that would not be any different.

So, to be honest, I prefer chat boards like these kept independent of the actual cruise lines. Then I know that I am going to get true independent reviews, opinions, etc. when I visit them. Sure HAL can visit these boards, but they truly have very little if any control over what is said here ... even if they may sponsor some advertising on these boards ... and that's the way I like it.



CC Chat Board IS Sponsered by another line, that is why HAL cannot have gatherings for a CC Q and A session. CC started out many used ago with just the cruise line/lines they sponser and then extended it.

[kryos]

CC Chat Board IS Sponsered by another line, that is while HAL cannot have gatherings for a CC Q and A session. CC started out many used ago with just the cruise line/lines they sponser and then extended it.
I think these boards are in some measure sponsored by all the cruise lines. They all pay for advertising space on it. HAL advertises here as well. Maybe RCCL and Celebrity have a special program for the CC get-togethers, and maybe they pay more than the other lines, but the point is that the board is independent of HAL or any other cruise line.

Now, the people who really pay the freight for CC are a certain group of travel agents, and as a result we lose a certain independence because of that. We can only promote CC-sponsored group cruises on these boards. And, when a group wants to run a CC group cruise, they have to go through the moderators who put out a request for quotation to ONLY their sponsoring travel partners. We can't, for example, bring in an agent of our own choosing ... not affiliated with CC ... to give a quote and run the group cruise ... not if we want to promote it here on the CC boards.

Same with TA recommendations. If someone asks for the name/contact information of a good travel agent, no one can respond to that post with the requested information. Otherwise, the post ... and probably the entire thread ... will be deleted in a heartbeat.

Now, we all choose to live under these constraints because not being able to recommend our personal favorite travel agents to others is no big deal ... at least not to me it isn't. Not being able to bring in a non-CC travel agent to quote on a group cruise is also probably not a big deal to most. But, what would be a big deal, at least to me, is if I could not depend on independent reviews of various ships because those cruise lines sponsored the chat board I'm on and will only allow favorable reviews. That's what I think you would get on a cruise line-sponsored chat board residing on its own servers.

I come to CC because I know I can read independent opinions here. If I want to know what sailing the QE2 is like, I know that I'm getting honest perceptions, both good and bad, when I read the reader's reviews. I think also that much of the CC "professional" reviews contain honest information, both good and bad, as well. So, I don't think the fact that a cruise line pays for advertising space here gives them any say so in what is written here. Not so if the chat board were 100% sponsored by the cruise line and running on its servers.

I sort of liken it to a major daily newspaper (the type of operation in which I work). Sure, you have advertisers and they pay big money for space. But in return for their money the only thing they get control of is their ad and what they will say in it. The editorial content of the paper is totally independent of them, and they have absolutely no control over what the paper writes ... even if it is a story not favorable to their own business. The paper will sooner lose their advertising than let them meddle in the editorial content and independence of the paper. Now, if that business owned the paper, things would be a lot different, I am sure. Same holds true of a chat board "owned" by the cruise line and I wouldn't place one iota of faith in what I read there.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[hammybee]

[SIZE=3]CC Chat Board IS Sponsered by another line, that is why HAL cannot have gatherings for a CC Q and A session. CC started out many used ago with just the cruise line/lines they sponser and then extended it.

Laffnvegas: Are you sure about this? I have been around these boards, on and off, for a long time, going back to the dark ages of it being an AOL chatroom, ( not as hammybee.) I thought it was owned by a privately held company, somewhere on the east coast. But I do have a vague sense of there being a cruise line interest, a line still sailing, that is not a part of what is now CCL. This goes back more than 20 years. Are we on the same page?

[Hojo's redbeard]

I'd go to it for straight up from the horses mouth answers when I have a question on something. That is what it would be a good forum for. Will they do it? What manager in their right mind is going to assign that much budget to it? Only thing I could see them doing would be to have a corporate blogger like a lot of companies are doing these days. That blogger could post email q & a, but, I'd be SHOCKED if they had a real-time forum like this.

[bruce-r]

Several months ago I participated in a hour long survey/interview by telephone. In this survey they asked me if I would find a Chat Board on the HAL Web Site useful?

Would do some of you think of this idea?This may sound like nit picking, but there is a huge technical difference between a Chat room (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chat_room) and a Message forum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Message_board), which CC is. I would be interested in a HAL sponsored message forum, but NOT a chat room. As for it being moderated by HAL, I would expect that. It's not like this forum isn't moderated, too much at times for me.

[Krazy Kruizers]

AHHH-- Have never ever gotten a telephone call survey from HAL -- never get any by either e-mail or snail-mail.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Bad idea - HAL has too many problems with their computers and web site.

[bdcbbq]

Over on eGullet they sometimes host threads that people can post questions too and get answers from somone famous from, i.e. Sara Moulton.

I would rather see an area here where various "industry people" could provide anwers to general questions about the future of cruising, online agencies, cruise ship employees answering questions about their jobs, etc.

[diboja]

This may sound like nit picking, but there is a huge technical difference between a Chat room (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chat_room) and a Message forum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Message_board), which CC is. I would be interested in a HAL sponsored message forum, but NOT a chat room.


Your absolutely right - there is quite a difference between a chat room and a forum. Neither of these should be on the HAL site......

As far as ownership of Cruise Critic is concerned:

Cruise Critic is owned, operated and published by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a privately held New Jersey Corporation. Cruise Critic's sister site is The Independent Traveler (http://www.independenttraveler.com/).

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=126902

[LAFFNVEGAS]

As far as ownership of Cruise Critic is concerned:


The word owned or ownership was never used or questioned in the above posted. The word used was sponsered. The ownership of the CC board has never been questioned.:confused:

[LAFFNVEGAS]

First off, let me set this straight. I just asked a simple questioned as to would you like HAL to answer questions. It could be in a Blog form, It would not have to be like the CC. Everyone likes to pick apart every little thing here and seems to just ask for a fight. Must be the FULL MOON:D
I for one would not mind some type of Question and Answer Board on their web site, many people may have the same question and look it up for reference. Frankly all I was trying to bring up was an idea for possibly helping people since it was infact brought up to me on that phone interview.
For the most part it seems like CCer's would rather argue, pick apart threads and posters rather than get real answers.

[bepsf]

A sidenote to Rita's concern about corporate censorship:

This past year, GM put up a website where folks could "create" their own commercials using pre-recorded filmstock from GM. The big issue is that this was for their new SUV's and gas prices had just blown through the $3.00 mark (almost $4 here in SF for premium...) Lots of folks went on there and posted commercials that were very critical of GM for producing such wasteful behemoths, yet GM let them remain - as I recall, in the interest of free expression.

Of course this made all the news-wires, etc. As they say, bad publicity is better than no publicity at all... :cool:



I would participate in a CCL/HAL sponsored bulletin board similar to what we have here if:
1. We had participation & input from CCL/HAL corporate
2. If we were relatively uncensored - allowed to talk not only about good and bad experiences, but good & bad TA's and specific ship-charter companies.
3. You guys came over & played too ;)

There's lots of other cruise bulletin board/forums around: the things that differentiates this one as most successful IMO is that it's widely read, has independent news/reviews, is fairly even-handed in it's monitoring, and isn't run by a bunch of corporate "rah-rah's".

[kikiwik]

First off, let me set this straight. I just asked a simple questioned as to would you like HAL to answer questions. It could be in a Blog form, It would not have to be like the CC. Everyone likes to pick apart every little thing here and seems to just ask for a fight. Must be the FULL MOON:D
I for one would not mind some type of Question and Answer Board on their web site, many people may have the same question and look it up for reference. Frankly all I was trying to bring up was an idea for possibly helping people since it was infact brought up to me on that phone interview.
For the most part it seems like CCer's would rather argue, pick apart threads and posters rather than get real answers.


are you not doing this right now. everyone is just posting there opinions on the matter.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Yikes! This didn't seem controversial when I happened on it!!!:o

I've come to the conclusion that I don't really like censorship a whole lot and we do get a lot of that here on CC. Usually I agree with it, but sometimes I don't. So unless the Chat Board you describe was a true open forum, I doubt I'd be interested in participating.

There can be a lot of debate about what are "real answers". I would welcome HAL's legitimate responses to our questions because the answers would be presented as representative of HAL's corporate office.

But I think everyone who comes to CC is very interested in getting real answers to questions as well as getting opinions from knowledgeable cruisers. I just have no doubt about that.

As an aside, I'm not sure at all about CC being sponsored by only one cruise line. I, too, have been on and off CC since 1995 when it was a small, intimate group on AOL. At no time was I under the impression that it was representative of only one cruise line. Certainly all cruise lines sponsor this site by advertising here (along with many TA's).

[Pudgesmom]

If HAL were to start a blog/forum/message board/chat room and answer all the questions regarding tipping, dress codes, children, blenders, etc....

What would be left to argue about here?!!:rolleyes: ;) :D

Beth

[serendipity1499]

Maybe or Maybe not...I would have to monitor it before making a decision..The forum would have to be moderated..If HAL had someone from Corporate Headquarters that would answer some of the questions which arise about some of the decisions, maybe it would be a worth while forum...But I doubt they would do such a thing as there are too many legal problems that could be manifested..

Every forum need hosts or moderators & if they don't have rules there would be a free for all.. Posters who are rude, question others credentials (as I did yesterday) or use acronyms which actually would be offensive in every day speech, should have their posts pulled..Hal would not only require someone from Corporate to answer many Questions, but a full time moderator as well.. That could become an expense that would produce very little revenue..I believe their money crunchers would have something to say about that!

It was my understanding that RCCL & Celebrety are the only lines that officially sponsor CC get togethers & it was done by contract between the two parties..RCCL & Celebrety do not sponsor CC..There is a sticky from Laura about this, someplace on this board, but I don't know where..

As far as censorship is concerned, my opinion is the only time we are censored is when we completely go against CC Rules..I was one that did it in my post yesterday & my post was pulled.:o ..I know the reason whithout being told why.. I should have known better!;) JMO..Betty

[HeatherInFlorida]

Betty, I've lost your email address. Can you please email me at Luvs2cruise@aol.com. Thanks:) !

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Obviously I should have never started this thread because No One understands what I am getting at:(

There are many times that we have questions, we do nothing but speculate what the answer can be. Sometimes posters are right sometimes they are very wrong and many times we disagree. Many companies now have a sections where you can post questions, or look up commonly asked questions. I guess I am not asking it to be at all like CC nor in competition with CC.

A question I would like answered form HAL "Have you in fact canceled Suite Luncheons on 7 day cruises" We are hearing all kind sof answers but it is strictly hear say. One person says they just came back and had one another says no, the new HAL booklets says it is for longer cruises. How about if a cruise qualifies for CCL credit? Can I bring my oxygen tank? etc. etc. etc. The monitoring would not have to be constant. But many of us have real questions, I have seen some answered in ways I consider wrong. Each questions often get several answers, Why not hear it right from HAL?????

OK, as far as I am concerned I am getting off this soapbox, people I thought were my friends either did not understand me or they are not friends:(

[hammybee]

It's a simple forum to ask HAL a question that could enable HAL to build a file of better FAQ to help future cruisers with definitive answers as opposed to speculation.

It works for me. Thank you for your post.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Lisa, I'm so sorry that answers here have upset you. But I think we all understood your post. You asked if we would like a HAL "Chat" board. Maybe you really meant a "Q&A" board to which our responses might have been different.

I certainly thought I understood your question and said the following:


I would welcome HAL's legitimate responses to our questions because the answers would be presented as representative of HAL's corporate office.


I still think it's an interesting topic. But there is a vast different between a "chat" board and a "Q&A" board. So maybe that's where the confusion lay.

[kryos]

It's a simple forum to ask HAL a question that could enable HAL to build a file of better FAQ to help future cruisers with definitive answers as opposed to speculation.

Okay, I guess I misunderstood the question then. I thought the original poster was referring to a regular chat board, similar to CC, being sponsored by HAL. But ... if we are talking a question/answer forum ... a FAQ database where people can post questions, or look up the answers to questions that have been posted previously, then yes ... that would be a very worthwhile forum because it wouldn't be one where opinions would be given, but rather one where solid questions are answered by a representative of HAL.

Guess it would eliminate a lot of the speculation on this board, though ... and that could be a good or a bad thing. :)

Blue skies ...

--rita

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Lisa, I'm so sorry that answers here have upset you. But I think we all understood your post. You asked if we would like a HAL "Chat" board. Maybe you really meant a "Q&A" board to which our responses might have been different.

I certainly thought I understood your question and said the following:



I still think it's an interesting topic. But there is a vast different between a "chat" board and a "Q&A" board. So maybe that's where the confusion lay.

Heather, you are right, I should have worded it differently. But when I was asked the question "Chat Board" was the phrase used. Then we discussed it being able to talk to fellow cruisers and get answers from HAL Corp and crew.

[serendipity1499]

Betty, I've lost your email address. Can you please email me at Luvs2cruise@aol.com. Thanks:) !

2 email's sent tonight Heather..Cheers..Betty

[serendipity1499]

Heather, you are right, I should have worded it differently. But when I was asked the question "Chat Board" was the phrase used. Then we discussed it being able to talk to fellow cruisers and get answers from HAL Corp and crew.

Lisa... I also understood it to be a "Chat Board" with other HAL Cruisers..
But it would still have to be monitored full time..

It's not that simple & it's naive to think that everyone would pose a nice simple question such as "Are you eliminating Luncheons for Suite Passengers" or "Can I bring my Oxygen Tank"...You will automatically have those that will argue that HAL does not care for their Mariners by eliminating these luncheons or demanding to know whey they did not immediately charter a special plane for those stranded in Alaska to get them to the ship on time:rolleyes: ..

HAL has a FAQ section in their WEB site now & many still do not bother to look up the Questions..It's so much easier to ask here..Guaranteed many posters don't even bother to read their "Know before you Go" booklet... The same questions & comments would be asked over & over again... If the questions were not answered in a timely manner, they will see some (not so nice) comments.. ;)

As another poster mentioned Hal can not afford to have anything which remotely resembles a complaint or disparaging remarks on their WEB site..There would be many more people on the HAL WEB site than their are on Cruise Critic's WEB site & most of them would be New Cruisers who don't have a clue about shipboard life...

That's why a full time moderator would be required if they have a "Chat Board" ..On many sites you can ask a question & speak directly with a tech or knowledgeable person, but those 2 way conversations are private..

Cheers...Happy cruising all..:) Betty

[sail7seas]

Lisa.......I'm sorry but I also thought you meant 'Chat Board' and that is why I didn't respond at all. I really didn't want to be negative but I also didn't think (a) HAL would ever agree to sponsor such a Board and (b) felt uncomfortable talking about it here on CC.

I'm sorry I misunderstood.

I like the idea of a Q & A.

[LHC]

Our HAL TA and my daughter, plus myself, do most of our correspondence over the computer. We talk with her directly to do money exchange but otherwise ask our questions via email, so a chat board to use with each other and with HAL employee's would be terrific.
Linda